A “Four Point Inspection” focuses only on four main areas of interest in a home:

• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)
• Electrical wiring and panels
• Plumbing connections and fixtures
• Roof

The inspection and report describes the condition and age of these elements.

Why do I need a four point inspection?

Insurance companies have become increasingly reluctant to issue Homeowner Insurance Policies on older homes (usually 25 years old or more).

Their common concern is that there may be conditions in an older home that could become a liability to them. For instance; a home with a roof nearing the end of its reliable service life may fail while under the policy and the homeowner may seek reimbursement from their insurance company for damages to the home or its contents. Similar concerns extend to the condition of the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems in an older home. If these elements are in poor condition, in need of being updated or replaced or were improperly installed, they may fail and cause fire or water damage to a home.

Newer homes are assumed (by the insurance companies) to not have these problems as frequently as older homes.

Is there a standard form to fill out?

There is no industry wide standard form for a Four Point Inspection. Some insurance companies provide their own forms; however, most insurance companies will accept forms from companies that perform home inspections provided that they are filled out by qualified individuals. Go to the “sample report” page under Inspection Services page to view a sample of a four point inspection report.  You can copy this sample report and email it to your insurance company to see if it will satisfy their requirements. All inspection reports from SAR Inspection Services are PDF files that can be easily distributed over the internet.

Can I fill out the form myself?

Insurance companies want these forms filled out by certain qualified individuals such as a licensed Professional Engineer or Florida State Certified General Contractor. SAR Inspection Services is a Licensed State Certified General Contractor.

I had a home inspection before I purchased the home. Can I use that report instead of getting a Four Point Inspection Report?

The insurance companies do not want large reports that contain other information. They want only specific information about the HVAC, plumbing, electrical system and roof in a short two to four page signed document.